282 THE HORSE. 
is stained has come off to any serious extent, a little of a solution of green 
copperas may be used, but this is not often necessary. Unbuckle the bits 
from the bridle, put them in clean water for a short time, then take them 
out, and remove every particle of dirt from them. Dry with the leather, 
and rub a very little neat’s-foot oil on them, Before they are used again, 
they musi be polished with the dry leather, aided by a little silver sand, 
if they have become at all rusty. The curb-chain will always wazt rub- 
ae loosely in the hand with a little silver sand, finishing with the 
eather. 
BuacK HARNESS must be kept constantly polished by hand-brushing it 
with some composition specially prepared for the purpose. This must be 
of a greasy or waxy nature, to prevent the rain from dissolving it, and 
washing it off upon the coat of the horse. One or other of the following 
compositions will answer the purpose ; but neither will quite come up in 
appearance to some of those sold by Clark, of London, and other vendors 
of similar preparations :— 
RECIPES FOR HARNESS BLACKING, 
No. 1. 
Spirit of Paki a Oo ideol ovo a ajo 
Beeswax. .. fe RS I, SOR EA os 
Prussian Ble): 4.3 Wee. ist aati te 1 OZ. 
TampyBlack sea i: £ oz. 
Slice the wax very thin, put it in a jar and pour on the turpentine. Let it stand 
twenty-four hours, then grind the other ingredients together on a stone or marble 
slab, and mix carefully up. It must be kept i in a covered tin box. 
No. 2 
Take the above compo and add the following, which improves the polish :— 
Spirit Varnish. . . cen. apts 
GumiBenzoine.) hae! vs Poet ben tonite) tenn OZ; 
Soft Soap. a. Loz: 
Melt together in a water bath, and when thoroughly incorporated mix all together 
on a stone and cover up directly. 
—_—__-—_ —_ 
CHAPTER XVI. 
RIDING AND DRIVING. 
SADDLES—BRIDLES—MOUNTING AND DISMOUNTING —THE SEAT—MANAGEMENT OF THE 
REINS—USE OF SPURS—MODES OF STARTING THE HORSE INTO HIS VARIOUS PACES— 
RIDING TO HOUNDS—OUT-DOOR VICES AND BAD HABITS—HARNESS—DRIVING A 
SINGLE HORSE—A PAIR—FOUR-IN-HAND. 
SADDLES. 
THERE IS A FASHION in saddles, as in everything else which admits of 
alteration. For the last fifty years it may be said that no real improve- 
ment has been made in our English saddles, and we have simply gone 
from plain flaps to padded ones, and back again. Up to the beginning of 
the present century the trees were made $00 heavy and clumsy, and a 
hunting saddle of less weight than fourteen pounds was never thought of, 
while the majority would turn the scale at sixteen pounds. But when 
the pace of the hunter was increased the attention of the saddler was 
